Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb has announced that Crackdown 2 is now Xbox One backwards compatible. The game is also now free on the Xbox Live store.
With this announcement, you can now own the entire Crackdown trilogy without spending a dime, provided you already have a subscription to Xbox Game Pass. Prior to the release of the third game, the original Crackdown was made free on the Xbox Live marketplace, and Crackdown 3 is included in the list of games offered through Game Pass. Both Crackdown and Crackdown 2 can be played on Xbox One via backwards compatibility--along with a long list of other games.
In our Crackdown review, Jeff Gerstmann gave the game a 7.8/10, writing, "Crackdown feels unfinished. It feels like the developers sat down and crafted a wonderful-looking city and carefully considered how the gameplay and abilities should work, and then they didn't have enough time to plug in enough activities to take advantage of it all."
In our Crackdown 2 review, Chris Watters gave the game a 7/10, writing, "What Crackdown 2 does offer is a whole bunch of room to have fun. Exploring the vast city, grabbing orbs, pulling off stunts, and flexing your abilities can keep you entertained for hours, and it's even more enjoyable when you have some friends along to add their own sparks of diversion."
Finally, in our Crackdown 3 review, Chris Pereira gave the game a 5/10, writing, "...it soon becomes apparent that the game has little new to offer beyond cool destruction tech that never gets put to good use. It certainly delivers on letting you blow things up and jump around the city. However, a dozen years after the first Crackdown offered that same experience but failed to provide you with enough interesting content surrounding that, it's truly disappointing to see this latest iteration suffer from the very same problems."
With March having finally arrived, we're slowly, but steadily moving through 2019. Capcom and Square Enix capped off January with two tremendous games, the Resident Evil 2 remake and Kingdom Hearts 3. On the other hand, we saw the release of three big-name games in February, which included Anthem, Metro Exodus, and Far Cry: New Dawn. Suffice to say, we've got a pretty steady lineup of new games so far. However, March is looking to shake things up further with even more exciting new games.
Starting off March's big releases are Dead or Alive 6 and Devil May Cry 5, which will be closely followed by Tom Clancy's The Division 2 in the middle of the month. The latter end of March will see the launch of From Software's new epic, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, as well as Nintendo's adorable platformer, Yoshi's Crafted World.
There are plenty of other more smaller experiences and remasters on the way this month as well. You can see all of the biggest game releases for March 2019 below. For a wider look at what's ahead this year, be sure to check out our complete list of game release dates in 2019.
Devil May Cry 5 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) -- March 8
After a six-year hiatus, the Devil May Cry franchise makes its long-awaited return with this month's release of Devil May Cry 5. The highly anticipated installment features the series' trademark stylish, over-the-top action, but this time around, it stars three playable characters: Dante, Nero, and newcomer V, who battles by summoning demonic familiars. That isn't the only way it diverges from previous games; it also introduces a new mechanic called the Cameo System, which allows players to team up online.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2 (PS4, Xbox Once, PC) -- March 15
The Division 2 is Ubisoft Massive's follow-up to its 2016 open-world shooter. This time around it's set in Washington DC and deals with the exploits of the Division attempting to reclaim the capital. Likes its predecessor, you work alongside other players to complete objectives while collecting all sorts of loot in the process.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (PS4, Xbox One, PC) -- March 22
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the long-awaited new game from acclaimed studio From Software. You play as a mysterious shinobi, known as the one-armed wolf, with a weaponized prosthetic arm seeking to save his kidnapped lord and exact revenge on the one who cut off his arm. It appears to be expanding upon the classic Dark Souls formula by introducing stealth-action elements and more acrobatic maneuvers.
While Yoshi's Crafted World appears to be a rather straightforward 2D side-scroller, it offers a subtle twist to the formula in which levels appear as dioramas, and you switch from the front view to a behind-the-scenes look to reveal the stages' secrets. Revealed during Nintendo's E3 2017 presentation, Yoshi's Crafted World looks like one of Nintendo's most adorable games yet.
Apex Legends features a varied roster that bring their own unique set of skills to the intense battle royale. Though many of these heroes fall into the same archetypes you would expect from familiar online shooters, each character's abilities have a special twist to them that can open up some interesting strategies and dynamics within the squad. With every match yielding their own situational encounters and tense gunfights, you'll need to know the ins and out of your character to survive, while also knowing what to do should you cross paths with them on the field.
In this quick guide, we're taking a look at the cunning, but somewhat insecure Mirage. His peculiar skill-set can create some bizarre encounters where you'll see double, allowing him and his squad the chance to get the upper hand. Though these skills seem basic at first glance, they can create some interesting opportunities for you and your squad, which can open the pathway to becoming a champion.The knowledge below will help steer you in the right direction, but with the introduction of a new weapon called Havoc, balancing is likely to change in the near future. Speaking of changes though, the game recently got updated with a new patch.
For more breakdowns of different characters, and along with our full review and other guides focusing on some of the best weapons in the game, check out our further Apex Legends coverage on GameSpot.
Known as the Holographic Trickster, Mirage is one of the two unlockable characters in Apex Legends, the other being Caustic. He brings with him advanced holographic technology that can create false-duplicates for tactical purposes. On the surface, many of his skills appear a bit too situational and unorthodox, however, in keeping with the gameplay loop of a battle royale game, Mirage is the type of character that knows how to mess with his enemy's focus--which can mean all the difference in an intense fight.
With his slate of holographic skills, Mirage can disorient enemies and create additional pressure during fights. His primary tactical skill, known as Psyche Out, allows Mirage to create a holographic clone that runs ahead of him. At first glance, this double is indistinguishable from the real thing, which can cause other players to open fire. Mirage's decoy also display intelligence as well, and they act different depending on where they're deployed to. For instance, using one near a supply box will have the decoy perform an animation where they try to open it. Though many of these skills require certain circumstances to truly be effective, they are at their best when used in situations where you're uncertain of what lies ahead, or when you need to help your squad out by drawing fire away from enemies. However, it may take some time getting used to his abilities. With this in mind, here's a quick breakdown on how to his skills effectively.
Mirage's Abilities
Passive Skill: Encore
If all else fails and you get got, Mirage's passive skill Encore will kick in. Once you get knocked down, you'll instantly turn invisible and a decoy will drop in your place, who performs an overly dramatic death animation. This will buy you some time to crawl away to safety. However, the skill won't last long. If you're still out in the open and an enemy is nearby, then you're a prime target to get gunned down.
Tactical Skill:Psyche Out
Mirage's tactical ability Psyche Out allows you to send out a holographic decoy to confuse the enemy. It's a skill that has a surprising number of uses. In addition to drawing enemy fire in certain hot spots, allowing you to flank or get a bead on where a foe is hiding out, it's also a great skill to use for playing mind games. For instance, during the initial jump, you can send out decoys to landing spots, confusing enemy players into the thinking they're more active than they actually are.
Ultimate Skill:Vanishing Act
The Ultimate ability Vanishing Act is essentially a combination of Mirage's Passive and Tactical skills. When activated, Mirage will turn invisible and let a team of holograms distract the enemy for him. The skill is a great way to confuse enemies, who will likely lose track of which Mirage is the real one. This can be especially handy during tough fights in crowded spaces. Some of the best uses of Vanishing Act come when used to bail on fights that your squad is outmatched for or when you need to get the jump on enemies during a fight. However, there is a certain clue that can help enemy players keep track of the real Mirage. When you turn invisible, you'll leave a silhouette and can take damage. If the enemy can stay focused on any sudden movement, then they can still hit you with their shots.
Tips To Play
Mirage's greatest strength in battle is his ability to disorient enemies and shake up a fight. With his holographic skills, he can easily disrupt a fight by using his holograms, which also gives him and his squad some time to breathe. Right at the beginning of the match, once you and your squad make the jump, he can pull off some interesting tricks on other teams. While dropping from the ship, Mirage can send out up to two different holograms on the field. This can cause other teams to panic while in mid-flight, changing their course in order to avoid any possible fights when they're on the ground.
Once you make it to the ground, Mirage is best used when keeping his skills close to the vest. Unlike other support characters, his abilities aren't handy with only his squad around. However, once things start to go down, when you inevitably cross paths with an enemy team, this is where Mirage can shine. If you get the sense that an enemy team is nearby, you can send out hologram to act as a probe, provoking any gunfire from enemies. While in the moment, it's difficult to tell what's the real Mirage or a hologram, and they'll likely open fire on-sight.
Just like every other character, Mirage can carry his weight in a fight with any weapon he can get his hands on. However, given his trickster oriented skill-set, you may be better off using weapons that focus on long-range, such as the Longbow or Triple Take sniper-rifles. Once you toss out a decoy, you'll likely see enemies fire at the hologram, which will either give you a clue as to where they are--or if you're lucky--an opening if they decide to come run out to investigate.
Mirage has a pretty peculiar skill-set, but in the hands of a patient, and decisive player, he can be an effective squadmate to have. Even before touching the battlefield, he can cause panic amongst the enemy teams, which can make for an impressive start for matches.
Shazam, the next DC Entertainment movie, won't be in theaters for almost a month. However, the film has screened for select members of the press and the reactions should be enough to get you excited about the origin story of Billy Batson.
Practically across the board, the social media reviews of the film are incredibly positive. According to GameSpot's own Mike Rougeau, "it's the best DCEU movie to date. It's super fun, has a ton of heart, feels like a self-aware throwback to adventure movies of the '80s, the cast are all great, and everything about it just works!"
I saw #Shazam this week--no review yet, but I and can confidently say it's the best DCEU movie to date. It's super fun, has a ton of heart, feels like a self-aware throwback to adventure movies of the '80s, the cast are all great, and everything about it just works! pic.twitter.com/LwSncWZFut
That's a sentiment shared by many, including io9's Germain Lussier, who wrote, "The humor & action you'd expect from a superhero film are there, but [Shazam] stands out because of the emotional, family story at its center." While Lussier notes there are some minor issues with the film, "the family stuff is dynamic & powerful." ET Online's Ash Crossan agreed, tweeting, "Pure of heart, incredibly funny, full of in-jokes and references. Brought me a childlike joy to watch."
Shazam! is another win for DC. Sure, the humor & action you'd expect from a superhero film are there, but #ShazamMovie stands out because of the emotional, family story at its center. I had some small issues with the hero/villain aspects but the family stuff is dynamic & powerful pic.twitter.com/FYM3QVp5hu
#Shazam was damn near PERFECT in my book. My FAVORITE DC movie (DCEU? What are we saying now?) by far. Pure of heart, incredibly funny, full of in-jokes and references. Brought me a childlike joy to watch. This role was MADE for @ZacharyLevi... & Jack & Asher & the entire cast pic.twitter.com/rVrxjcwvCe
According to Slashfilm's Peter Sciretta, the movie is "parts Home Alone, parts Big, a [crowd-pleasing] family-friendly joy-filled wish-fulfillment superhero film which gets a bit over the top and cheesy at times." Meanwhile, reporter Rosie Marx concluded Shazam is "sweet, funny, inclusive, charming. It encapsulates the wish fulfillment and wonder of superhero comics in a way that will appeal to kids whilst being filled with [non-stop] surprises for big comic book fans too."
#Shazam is parts Home Alone, parts Big, a crowd pleasing family-friendly joy-filled wish-fulfillment superhero film which gets a bit over the top and cheesy at times. It's fun and funny, and I was surprised at how much it wears it's heart on its sleeve.
#Shazam was very very good. Sweet, funny, inclusive, charming. It encapsulates the wish fulfillment and wonder of superhero comics in a way that will appeal to kids whilst being filled with non stop surprises for big comic book fans too. I loved it. ⚡️❤️ pic.twitter.com/X4I9updTFV
You'll be able to see for yourself what kind of movie Shazam is when it hits theaters on April 5. In the meantime, take a look at even more Twitter reactions below.
Zachary Levi was born to play #Shazam He delivers lots of laughs alongside co-star Jack Dylan Grazer. The film packs some big surprises for comics buffs and offers enough mainstream appeal to win over new fans. Shazam's strengths definitely outweigh its weaknesses. pic.twitter.com/kfFMW01jfO
Shazam showcases Zachary Levi's charm and charisma as an actor and has a heartfelt and inspiring message at its core. Despite the dark tone in parts, it ends up bringing about lots of laughs and fun for all. #shazam#shazammoviepic.twitter.com/nyK1fWgykE
— Ashley Menzel @ SXSW (@AshleyGMenzel) March 8, 2019
#Shazam is an incredible film. It is full of heart and humor. The kids are phenomenal and have great chemistry. Zachary Levi was perfectly cast and the action was awesome. This is one of DC's best! pic.twitter.com/VSpHbSDjBM
#Shazam is a super-powered BIG & I LOVED every second of it. A colorful, vibrant, vital addition to the DCEU. Vivid character-driven action, heartrending central relationships & fully earned, totally satisfying emotional moments. Super hilarious. Super thrilling. Super awesome! pic.twitter.com/KelHZ5YzFq
#SHAZAM! is pure joy that would have been right at home in the Amblin era. It has huge heart, loads of laughs, and even a few (welcome) scares. @ponysmasher combines classic charm and modern irreverence to create a thrilling superhero adventure for all. #SHAZAMMoviepic.twitter.com/3S7OYIjVos
#Shazam is an absolute delight! Super vibrant, tons of heart & a great fun-loving vibe. The family element is a big charmer & so is the humor that comes with watching @ZacharyLevi explore his new powers. Said this after IT but it's worth repeating - @Jgrazerofficial is a star.
Psycho-Pass is getting a third season. This cyberpunk detective thriller anime first aired in 2012, before being followed by a second season, titled Psycho-Pass 2, in 2014.
According to the Psycho-Pass anime's website, which was translated by Anime News Network, the new season will star Yuuki Kaji as Arata Shindō and Yūichi Nakamura as Kei Mikhail Ignatov. Naoyoshi Shiotani, who directed the first season but was replaced with Kiyotaka Suzuki for the second, is scheduled to return for this third season. The creator of Psycho-Pass, Akira Amano, is returning to do the designs for the brand-new characters as well.
The Psycho-Pass anime has had a rather bumpy history. The first season is popular and highly regarded in both Japan and the West for its soundtrack, characters, and visuals. The TV show's second season was not praised to the same extent, and critics of the second season target its over-the-top use of gore as well as a villain who isn't as well-written as the one in the first season. Since its unpopular second season, the universe of Psycho-Pass has been expanded with three films (the most recent of which released in Japan last month), a manga that operates as a prequel to the main series, and a video game called Mandatory Happiness.
Psycho-Pass takes place in Japan in the near future, where crime is virtually nonexistent. At all times, everyone is monitored by a network of psychometric scanners that measure the mental and emotional state of each individual. Those who are calculated to likely commit a crime are swiftly detained and given therapy, while those who are deemed too far gone to save are sentenced to life in prison as "latent criminals" or killed on the spot by Inspectors or Enforcers. Inspectors are elite police officers who patrol the city, enacting the will of the system that governs everyone's mental state. Enforcers are latent criminals who serve Inspectors by committing the violent actions that may negatively affect their handlers--their lifetime servitude the price they have to pay for ever once feeling or thinking something illegal.
If you're interested in catching up on Psycho-Pass, you can watch both Season 1 and 2 on Funimation.
There are plenty of perks that come with being an Xbox Live Gold member--getting access to monthly free game giveaways is just one--and the latest bonus will be of particular interest for fighting game enthusiasts, Mortal Kombat fans in particular. Xbox Live is holding a Free Play Days event where Xbox Live Gold members can play Mortal Kombat X for free from now until Sunday, March 10 at 11:59 PM PST / 2:59 AM EST on Monday.
Mortal Kombat X introduced a new, smoother fighting engine to the series and a story mode that will appeal a lot to long-term fans who care about Mortal Kombat lore. In our Mortal Kombat X review, GameSpot's Peter Brown praised the game for its fantastic character designs and fighting mechanics. "A great roster with a wide range of diverse fighting styles and variations gives you plenty to play around with, and the new fighting mechanics add the right amount of depth to nudge Mortal Kombat X ever higher on the list of respectable fighting games," he wrote.
Use the below link to download and install Mortal Kombat X, or to download on console, go to the Gold member area on your Xbox One's dashboard. The game is free to play for just a couple more days, so don't wait if you want to try it out.
It's hard to imagine a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie without Stan Lee popping up make fans laugh via some kind of cameo. The co-creator of so many Marvel characters, from Spider-Man to Scarlet Witch, has been a regular fixture in the MCU, appearing briefly in each film, along with a handful of non-Marvel Studios titles.
With Lee's passing in late 2018, though, there was some fear that his cameo in Captain Marvel would be the last. Thankfully, that's not the case. In an interview with ET Online, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirms that more appearances were filmed before Lee's death. Warning: The following contains spoilers for Lee's role in Captain Marvel. If you don't want to be spoiled, stop reading now.
"We shot a couple of others, so we're coming up on the last of them, yes," he said. Feige also confirmed that one of said cameos is for the next MCU movie, Avengers: Endgame. When asked about Spider-Man: Far From Home, he offered, "We'll see."
Lee's role in Captain Marvel actually finds him playing none other than Stan Lee. In a scene set on a train, he can be seen holding the script to Kevin Smith's 1994 movie Mallrats--in which he plays himself--rehearsing dialogue. For a moment, Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) thinks he's a Skrull in disguise but instead acknowledges him with a small smile before moving onto the next potential suspect.
As a further tribute to Lee, the film also opens up with a modified version of the Marvel Studios signature, in which all of the MCU's heroes have been replaced by his cameo appearances from over the years. The introduction is followed with a simple, "Thank you Stan."
According to Feige, the idea to honor the comics icon this way came to fruition shortly after his passing. "We figured, as we always have, the way to pay honor to him is the way we've been trying to do while he was alive, which is the movies. I had always thought in the back of my head, should that day ever come--which as I've previously said, I wasn't sure it would. Like, I envisioned him at 127--that I would want something sort of touching and rousing up front, as opposed to sort of depressing at the end."
Captain Marvel is the final stop on the Marvel Cinematic Universe space train that's been hurtling inexorably towards Avengers: Endgame for an entire decade. What Marvel has accomplished with the MCU is basically a miracle, tying disparate franchises with varying tones and dozens of characters together into one masterful tapestry that somehow, against all odds, really works. This has never been done before--or even attempted--which means there's no set template for how to end it. Marvel had to sit down and decide, at some point, whether they'd make Captain Marvel so integral to the plot of Endgame that this penultimate MCU movie would be essential viewing.
That's an important question for the more casual MCU fans among us: Is Captain Marvel essential viewing? Do you have to go see Marvel's first movie starring a female superhero if you want to have any hope of understanding what's going on in Endgame? The answer, ultimately, is probably not--but at this point, we can't exactly be 100% certain, considering Endgame is still on the horizon.
Here are the facts: Avengers: Infinity War ended with a pretty killer Captain Marvel tease, as Nick Fury's final act before disintegrating into cosmic dust was to send a message using what appeared--and indeed turned out--to be a modified 1990s era pager. As the camera zoomed in on that strange, retro plot device, an unmistakable logo appeared: Captain Marvel's red-and-blue-flanked star.
The Captain Marvel movie had already been announced as Marvel's first female-led MCU adventure way back in 2014--five years ago!--and Brie Larson was introduced as the actress playing Carol Danvers in 2016. The movie was eventually delayed from a planned 2018 release date into 2019, but other than that, we heard very little about Captain Marvel between 2016 and Infinity War's release last year. But with the teaser following Thanos's Snap, it became clear that Carol Danvers will play a part in the finale of the MCU's first three phases in Avengers: Endgame.
That leads us to the question: Do you need to see Captain Marvel's standalone movie if you want to understand the hero's role in Endgame? We say probably not, because whatever her role in the upcoming movie is, Marvel will likely take some time to re-introduce her to audiences in Endgame itself. There's a perfect opportunity built into the plot, as the rest of the remaining Avengers and other heroes--Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Hulk, Ant Man, Rocket, Nebula, and War Machine--currently have no idea who she is, and they'll have to meet her at some point. (We have a recap if you want to know what happens in Captain Marvel's end credits scenes.)
Even if Endgame brushes quickly past this introduction--the movie will no doubt have a lot to jam in when it comes to undoing Thanos's victory--there will be countless ways to catch up on Captain Marvel's story before Endgame comes out. If you just can't bring yourself to head to the theater in the coming weeks and see it for yourself, you can still check out our explainers for everything the movie establishes, from how Captain Marvel got her powers to what it reveals about Nick Fury's origins and the beginnings of the Avengers Initiative.
All that said: Even if Captain Marvel feels like a somewhat unnecessary narrative cul-de-sac this close to Avengers: Endgame's release on April 26 (which I argue in my review), it's still an extremely solid entry in the MCU in its own right. It certainly doesn't reach the previous heights of movies like Civil War, Winter Soldier, Black Panther, and Infinity War--or even worthy side stories like the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie--but Carol's origin story is a fun adventure with a strong hero front and center, the great blend of action, drama, and comedy we've come to expect from the MCU, and a fun mystery at its core.
If you have the ability to go see Captain Marvel, absolutely do. We can't be completely sure at this point whether or not Carol's origin story will be integral to understanding everything that's about to go down in Avengers: Endgame. But if you're wondering whether Captain Marvel is absolutely essential viewing in the build-up to the Avengers' final fight, my money is on "no."
Ubisoft's new loot-driven shooter, The Division 2, is only a few days away. The publisher is taking an Anthem-like approach to the game's release and offering it several days early depending on where and what edition you pre-order. Regardless of when you can jump into the game, however, you'll first need to download a hefty day-one update.
As it detailed on its support website, Ubisoft is releasing a big patch alongside The Division 2 that includes "various bug fixes and improvements for the main game." On Xbox One and PC, the update will weigh in at 48-52 GB "depending on your region and preferred language," while the PS4 patch will weigh between 88-92 GB.
On top of that, Ubisoft is rolling out Title Update 1.5 beginning March 11. This patch is likewise mandatory but is mercifully much smaller, weighing in around 2 GB depending on your platform and region. Ubisoft says this update "addresses occurrences of audio missing or cutting out experienced by some during Open Beta."
The Division 2 officially launches on March 15, but some players will have a chance to play the game a little early. Those who pre-order the Gold or Ultimate Editions will get to dive into the title beginning March 12. The game will also go live at different times depending on region; you can see all the listed times here.
Much like the previous game, Ubisoft will continue supporting The Division 2 with a steady stream of free post-launch updates. The publisher recently laid out the game's Year One roadmap, which will see two new episodes arrive this summer and fall, with a third slated for this winter. Ubisoft is also offering a $40 Year One pass that will grant early access to these episodes and exclusive cosmetics and other perks.
As with May 4 and Star Wars or October 3 and Mean Girls, March 10 is one of those days that has become inextricably linked to an iconic piece of pop culture: Mario. At some point in human history, someone realized that March 10--when stylized as MAR10--has an uncanny resemblance to the name of Nintendo's heroic plumber, and while Nintendo had no involvement in declaring March 10 as Mario Day, the company has since come to embrace the unofficial day of celebration. This year, many retailers are recognizing Mario Day by offering discounts on select Mario games with the purchase of a Nintendo Switch console. Here's a full breakdown of all the deals:
Starting Sunday, March 10, you can purchase a Nintendo Switch and one of its Mario games for a combo deal of $330. The five Mario games being offered are:
The Switch sells for $300 and first-party Nintendo games are steadily priced at $60, so this combo deal is about $30 in savings. It may not seem like much, but if you were already planning to buy a Switch, getting one of its best games for 50% off isn't anything to sneeze at.
GameStop is offering the above deal on March 10 only, while supplies last. However, other retailers are offering this deal all week long, from March 10 through March 16. Those retailers include Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target. This promotion is running both online and in stores.
Already own a Switch? Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target also also offering a digital download code for one of the above Mario games for $40, so if you've been waiting to pick up any of those games, now's a great time to do so.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of mysteries, from the origins of each Infinity Stone to just what the hell the point of that Adam Warlock reveal at the end of Guardians 2 was. With the release of Captain Marvel today, we've finally gotten an answer to one of the MCU's longest running and most mysterious of enigmas: the source of Nick Fury's eyepatch.
Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel actually reveals a lot about Nick Fury's origins and the start of his Avengers initiative. The movie features a de-aged Samuel L. Jackson co-starring alongside Brie Larson's Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel--not to mention a de-aged Clark Gregg as the beloved Agent Coulson--during Fury and Coulson's early days in SHIELD. Besides the uncanny digital effects on these actors' faces, the most notable thing about Fury's appearance in Captain Marvel is that he's lacking that signature, badass, half-pirate-half-super-spy eyepatch. And there's a good reason for that, as Captain Marvel finally reveals the origin of his mysterious eye injury.
To understand what happened to Nick Fury's eye, you first have to understand why everyone's talking about Goose the cat. You see, the cute orange tabby isn't really a cat at all--it's a Flerken, a dangerous alien creature that closely resembles a cat, but is far more powerful. Flerkens possess pocket dimensions in their stomachs, which has the incredible effect of allowing them to swallow just about anything--including, say, Infinity Stones. It also has a mouth full of massive, Lovecraftian horror inspired tentacles that erupt from its eldritch maw and swallow Kree whole, which comes in handy during the film.
Most importantly, the Flerken is a mysterious creature that possesses powers unknown. That becomes important late in the movie when Goose scratches Nick Fury in the eye. Unfortunately for him, it turns out to be no normal cat scratch, ultimately resulting in the eye becoming useless. Guess he should have listened to the numerous other characters who told him not to get so close to the thing.
Anyway, that's it! Nick Fury's famous eye injury didn't come from some epic showdown with murderous aliens or a fight against supervillains from across the wide spectrum of MCU characters. It didn't even come from the car crash early on in Captain Marvel--the bandage Fury sports above his left eye for the rest of the movie turned out to be a red herring. Instead, Fury wears that signature eyepatch thanks to the character's love of cats and a deceptively adorable Flerken named Goose. Who would have guessed?
Of course, Captain Marvel reveals much more about the MCU's past and future than simply what happened to Nick Fury's eye. Go check out what the movie's major Skrull changes could mean, the full breakdown on Fury's origin story, and what actually happened in the post-credits scenes. Then, once you've brushed up on all your facts and figures, start working on polishing up your Endgame theories.
Digital Extremes has announced a new update that changes how melee combat works in the PC version of Warframe. This update is only the first part of a multi-phase process for transforming melee strikes and how they operate in Warframe.
This first phase of changes mostly addresses how combat in Warframe was previously split between firearm and melee portions. The update allows you to quickly transition between shooting and slicing, which is designed to create a more flow-like state to the game's combat. "When interrupting a melee combo with gunfire, dodging, bullet jumping, or any parkour, your next melee attack will resume the combo where it left off (within a window)," Digital Extremes live ops & community director Rebb Ford wrote in a forum post. "This simply means taking brief and tactical actions between combo executions is now a valid strategy."
Ground slams have also been changed. Previously, ground slams interrupted all momentum and aimed straight down. Now, you'll be able to aim your ground slams, allowing you to also use the move to retreat from a forward jump or extend forward to an enemy. To account for these changes, as well as the aforementioned flow-like state for firearm and melee combat, Warframe's keybindings have been updated as well. Those changes are outlined below. If you're looking for more details, you can find them in the forum post that's linked above.
Warframe Keybinding March Changes
Blocking
Blocking with a melee weapon is no longer keybound, it is automatic when facing enemies who are dealing damage to you in melee mode.
Channeling
Channeling is now a toggle set to your alt-fire button when in melee mode.
Your 'F' button now exclusively swaps between Primary and Secondary weapons with a tap.
Your left mouse button is gun fire, always, instantly.
Your right mouse button is now aim, always, instantly.
Options
We are adding a toggle to preserve one aspect of the older melee system. You will be able to toggle an option, allowing you to continue melee attacks with the left mouse button once in melee mode.
In our initial Warframe review, Chris Watters gave the game a 6/10, writing, "Without new challenges for your combat abilities, the excitement soon dries up, leaving you without a compelling reason to keep playing. This free-to-play shooter is still technically in beta, so changes may come that make a substantive difference. But as of now, Warframe's interesting combat mechanics are too quickly overcome by the grind of repetition." However, last year we picked Warframe as one of our five favorite evolving multiplayer games in 2018. The game has certainly changed for the better in recent years.
Avengers: Endgame is around the corner, and we want to commemorate the end of the franchise with you. We've partnered with TV Guide, TechRepublic, ZDNet, and CNET, searching high and low for the hardcore fans that love Marvel to create a gallery that showcases your favorite Marvel collectibles. You can share a complete set of comics, your favorite Avenger t-shirt, or maybe you even have a Marvel shrine. Anything and everything Marvel is on the table!
Here is my personal collection.
My personal collection consists of some Marvel apparel that I've acquired at every SDCC--yes, even the exclusive ones to San Diego Comic-Con. Also a Black Widow Itty Bitty and an autographed art book by Marvel's artist, Humberto Ramos. Your collection can be big, small, old, new, or just simply important to you.
Share your photos by using the form below. Remember to keep the photos under 3MB and send us horizontal pictures--this will showcase your collection much better! And don't forget to caption your photo to tell us about what we're seeing and why it's special.
And we also have a Captain Marvel inspired giveaway right now that you should check out right after submitting your photos. We can't wait to see your pictures!
After months of silence, developer Void Interactive has released a lengthy gameplay trailer for its upcoming Rainbow Six-like shooter, Ready or Not. The video, which you can watch above, provides our first extended look at the gameplay, which is strongly reminiscent of the SWAT series.
Ready or Not is billed as a "realistic tactical shooter" that's "set against the backdrop of political and economic instability in the United States." The game casts players in the role of Judge, a SWAT solider "tasked with defusing tense, hostile situations in a morally bankrupt city."
Void Interactive had previously confirmed that Ready or Not will feature both competitive and cooperative modes, as well as a single-player mode. In the latter, the developer says players will be able to command their AI teammates using either an on-screen interface or with voice commands through the game's "finely tuned speech recognition system."
Ready or Not still doesn't have a release date, but the game is projected to launch in late 2020. Ahead of that, players can pre-order it through Void Interactive's website. The game is available in two versions; the standard edition (which runs for $40), and the $120 Supporter edition.
Along with the full game, the standard edition grants players access to a beta taking place in June 2020. The Supporter edition, meanwhile, also includes access to an alpha build in August of this year, as well as an FBI HRT pack and a 25% discount on the game's first expansion.
The Legendary Bounty Hunter Dante has a massive arsenal of weapons in Devil May Cry 5. Along with his old favorites including Rebellion and his twin handguns, he'll also find new armaments including a demonic hat that uses red orbs as ammunition, and a powerful motorcycle that transforms into massive chainsaw swords. However, there's one weapon in the game that can be very easy to miss, opening up access to a set of firearms, that when combined together, form one of the game's most powerful guns.
For some background, one of the weapons that Dante will acquire later in the game (and seen in the many trailers) is the Kalina Ann II--a heavily modified rocket launcher that was specially built for the bounty hunter Lady. The original Kalina Ann was also a weapon that Dante could use in Devil May Cry 3. The second version of the weapon was intended as a replacement, after the original was lost in a battle. The souped up Kalina Ann II can fire off powerful missiles and mini-rockets, causing serious damage to all surrounding enemies. However, if you didn't find it already, there's a way to track down and acquire the original Kalina Ann in one of the earlier missions.
In Mission 11, you'll control Dante has he explores a ruined town. During the mid-point of the level, you'll come to a massive tower that's tangled in demonic tendrils. Attacking the first blood sac will kill the first set of tendrils, causing the building to sink. Below the platform are two more blood sacs. Though you can destroy the one closest to the exit to proceed with the level, there's another one near the tower that will cause it to sink further. Destroying this particular sac will also open up access to the Secret Mission in the area. You can also find an opening in the section below the floor that leads to a room. Enter the room and approach the broken to table to find an item. Picking it up will grant Dante the original Kalina Ann rocket launcher.
If you have both rocket launchers in your possession, Dante will combine them together to form the Double Kaliana Ann firearm. Essentially wielding both rocket launchers in tandem, switching off between shots, the high-powered weapon is the Devil Hunter's most powerful firearm. In addition to firing off rockets with great speed and power, Dante can merge both weapons together to open up new moves, including a powerful laser attack. In Gunslinger style, the Double Kalina Ann's move-set and power increase further, adding a variety of other options in a fight.
It's certainly a lot of firepower, but if you find that two rocket launchers are simply too much to handle, you can adjust your loadout to use only one--choosing either the original Kalina Ann or its upgrade. Still, the Double Kalian Ann is a surprisingly versatile weapon, offering quick, crowd-clearing moves, and also powerful single-enemy attacks at your fingertips.
For more on Capcom's Devil May Cry 5, including the location of all the Secret Missions and how to find the hidden ending, but sure to check out our continuing coverage of the game. Also, if you haven't check out our full review yet for DMC5, written by editor Matt Espineli, be sure to give that a read as well.
For St. Patrick's Day, we're giving away a free "A Day With Pikachu" Figurine to one (1) lucky winner! (Scroll down to enter below).
This is not an instant win. No purchase necessary. Competition ends at 12:00 PM PT on March 17, 2019, in which 1 winner will be chosen at random. The winner will be mailed the Pikachu figurine (MSRP: $15.00).
NO PURCHASE OR WIRELESS DEVICE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO ARE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD OR AGE OF MAJORITY, WHICHEVER IS OLDER IN THEIR STATE OF RESIDENCE, AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. IF YOU ARE ACCESSING THIS SWEEPSTAKES VIA YOUR WIRELESS DEVICE, DATA RATES MAY APPLY.
Administrator & Sponsor: GameSpot, a Division of CBS Interactive, Inc. ("CBSI"), 235 Second Street, San Francisco, California 94105.
Prize Provider: TriplePoint, 595 Market Street, STE 1340, San Francisco CA 94105
Sweepstakes Entities: CBSI and TriplePoint.
THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED OR ADMINISTERED BY INSTAGRAM.
1. Acceptance of Rules. By entering the "A Day With Pikachu" Figurine Giveaway (the "Sweepstakes") operated on the CBSI page on the Instagram social web site accessible at the domain "instagram.com/GameSpot" (the "CBSI Service"), you hereby accept and agree to these official rules (the "Official Rules") of this Sweepstakes and the decisions of the Administrator in connection with this Sweepstakes, whose decisions are final.
No purchase, entry fee or use of wireless device is necessary to enter or win. If you are a wireless service subscriber and have a smartphone, tablet or other wireless device that allows you access to the Internet, you may also enter the Sweepstakes via any of those devices during the Promotion Period (as defined below). If you chose to access this Sweepstakes via any of those wireless devices, you may be charged data rates according to the Terms and Conditions of the Service Agreement with your wireless carrier.
2. Eligibility. This Sweepstakes is offered and open to persons who are: (a) Registered Users (as defined below); (b) legal residents of the United States; and (c) at least 18 years old or age of majority, whichever is older in their state of residence, at the date of entry in this Sweepstakes. For purposes of these Official Rules, "Registered User(s)" means a person who has successfully completed the registration form, obtained a user identification, an associated password on the social website Instagram and follows GameSpot (@gamespot). There is no fee associated with becoming a Registered User. Employees, directors, and the immediate family members of the Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies, advertising and promotion agencies and legal and financial advisors are not eligible to participate in this Sweepstakes. For purpose of the foregoing, "immediate family" means parents, spouses, children, siblings or any members of the same households of such employees and directors. This Sweepstakes is void in all U.S. territories and possessions and where prohibited by law.
3. Entering the Sweepstakes: To enter the Sweepstakes, if not already, become a Registered User (as specified above), and enter, during the Promotion Period, by following the instructions below:
1. Follow the @Pokemon page on the Instagram website; and
2. Like the post related to the Sweepstakes on the CBSI Service.
Participants can gain additional entries by tagging their friends in separate comments (one (1) per unique friend) on the post related to the Sweepstakes on the CBSI Service. Participants may receive a maximum of five (5) additional entries to the Sweepstakes via this action.
Limit of six (6) entries per person during the Promotion Period.
4. Promotion Period. The Sweepstakes begins on March 8, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time ("PT") and ends at 12:00 p.m. PT on March 17, 2019 (the "Promotion Period").
5. Prize. The Sweepstakes will award one (1) prize (the "Prize") that consists of one (1) "A Day with Pikachu" figurine. The Prize has an approximate retail value ("ARV") of Fifteen Dollars (US$15.00).
6. Prize Restrictions. No assignment, transfer, conversion to cash or cash redemption or substitution of the Prize is permitted, except Administrator reserves the right to substitute the Prize with a prize of comparable or greater value, should the Prize or part of the Prize become unavailable. Prize is solely for personal use and may not be used in conjunction with any other promotion. All Prize details are at the sole discretion of the Sweepstakes Entities.
7. Odds/Drawing/Winner Notification. Odds of winning the Prize depends on the number of eligible entries received during the Promotion Period. On or about March 18, 2019, the Prize drawing will be conducted at random by Administrator, whose decisions are final and binding in all respects. The potential Prize winner (the "Winner") will be notified by Administrator, via a message to their Instagram Service account. Potential Winner will be asked to provide their personal information, such as their name, physical address, date of birth and phone number in order to confirm eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules. Administrator will select up to two (2) alternate Winners. If no contact has been made with the alternates after a reasonable effort has been made during three (3) business days from the first notification attempt to the last alternate, the Prize will not be awarded.
8. Prize Taxes. All federal, state, local and other tax liabilities arising from this Sweepstakes, including, without limitation, winning the Prize, will be the sole responsibility of the Winner.
9. Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability Release and Publicity Release. Winner may be required to complete, execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability Release, and where lawful, a Publicity Release (collectively, the "Release Forms"), as well as a W-9 tax form within five (5) days of notification of winning. Failure to return Release Forms timely, or if a Prize notification or a Prize is returned as non-deliverable, or if a Winner is found not to be eligible or not in compliance with these Official Rules, may result in disqualification with an alternate Winner selected in accordance with these Official Rules.
10. Publicity Release Terms. Except where prohibited by law, a Winner's acceptance of the Prize constitutes permission for the Sweepstakes Entities to use Winner's name, photograph, likeness, statements, biographical information, voice, and address (city and state) worldwide and in all forms of media, in perpetuity, without further compensation.
11. Improper Conduct. Administrator, in its sole discretion, may disqualify any entrant from participation in or use of any or all portions of this Sweepstakes, and refuse to award the Prize, if the Winner engage(s) in any conduct Administrator deems to be improper, unfair or otherwise adverse to the operation of the Sweepstakes or detrimental to other entrants of the Sweepstakes. Such improper conduct includes, without limitation, falsifying personal information required during entrant registration or Prize claim, violating any term or condition stated herein, accumulating entries through methods such as automated computer scripts or any other programming techniques, allowing others to use entrant's personal information for the purpose of accumulating entries, or intentionally trying to defraud, reverse engineer, disassemble or otherwise tamper with the computer programs in connection with this Sweepstakes. Winner agrees that Administrator may void the Prize or any part of a Prize that a Winner may have won and/or require the return of the Prize or any part of a Prize that the Winner may have won as a result of such improper conduct. Winner further acknowledges that any forfeiture of the Prize and/or return of the Prize shall in no way prevent Administrator from pursuing other avenues of recourse, such as criminal or civil proceedings in connection with such conduct. WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS SWEEPSTAKES MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, EACH OF THE SWEEPSTAKES ENTITIES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES OR OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
12. Integrity of Sweepstakes. If, for any reason, the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned by reason of infection by computer virus, worms, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which Administrator, in its sole opinion believes could corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes, Administrator reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this Sweepstakes and select the Winner from entries received prior to the action taken or in such other manner as Administrator may deem fair and appropriate.
13. Lost or Corrupted Entries. The Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, assume no liability and are not responsible for, and you hereby forever waive any rights to any claim in connection with, lost, late, incomplete, corrupted, stolen, misdirected, illegible or postage-due entries or mail, if applicable; or for any computer, telephone, cable, network, satellite, electronic or Internet hardware or software malfunctions, unauthorized human intervention, or the incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry or other information, or the failure to capture any such information. The Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, are not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by registration information submitted by end users or tampering, hacking or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Sweepstakes, and assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to the Sweepstakes.
14. Damaged Property. The Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, assume no liability and are not responsible for, and you hereby forever waive any rights to any claim in connection with, injury or damage to any entrants or to any other person's computer or property related to or resulting from participating in this Sweepstakes or downloading materials from this Sweepstakes.
15. Sweepstakes Errors. The Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, assume no liability and are not responsible for, and you hereby forever waive any rights to any claim in connection with errors and/or ambiguity: (a) in the Sweepstakes; (b) in any related advertising or promotions of this Sweepstakes; and/or (c) in these Official Rules. In the event of any ambiguity(s) or error(s) in these Official Rules, Administrator reserves the right to modify these Official Rules for clarification purposes or to correct any such ambiguity(s) or error(s) without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Sweepstakes.
16. Prize and Winner. The Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, assume no liability and are not responsible for, and you/entrant hereby forever waive any rights to any claim in connection with, the selection and announcement of the Winner, the distribution of the Prize, the acceptance/possession and/or use/misuse of any part of the Prize and/or any injury or damage to any entrant's or third person's property related to or resulting from any part of the Prize or any part of this Sweepstakes.
17. Release and Indemnity. Each entrant in this Sweepstakes, including, without limitation, the Winner, hereby releases and agrees to hold harmless the Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies and their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents from any and all liability for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind to person, including death, and property, arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, use or misuse of a Prize, participation in this Sweepstakes and participation in any activity related to this Sweepstakes.
18. Limitation of Liability. IN NO EVENT WILL THE SWEEPSTAKES ENTITIES, THEIR PARENTS, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES AND RELATED COMPANIES, THEIR ADVERTISING OR PROMOTION AGENCIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES AND AGENTS, BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE SWEEPSTAKES OR THE DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM THE SWEEPSTAKES. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.
19. Disclaimer of Warranties. THE SWEEPSTAKES AND PRIZE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.
20. Identity Disputes. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of the winner based on an email address, the winning entry will be declared made by the Authorized Account Holder of the email address and/or wireless phone number submitted at time of registration into Instagram and/or entry into the Sweepstakes. For purposes of these Official Rules, "Authorized Account Holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational, institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.
21. Binding Arbitration. The parties waive all rights to trial in any action or proceeding instituted in connection with these Official Rules and/or this Sweepstakes. Any controversy or claim, arising out of, or relating to, these Official Rules and/or this Sweepstakes shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. Any such controversy or claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis and shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy of any other party. The arbitration shall be conducted in the State of New York, in the City of New York and judgment on the arbitration award may be entered into any court having jurisdiction thereof.
22. Governing Law and Jurisdiction. This promotion is governed by U.S. law and is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited by law. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and Administrator in connection with this Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, U.S.A., without giving effect to the conflict of laws rules thereof, and any matters or proceedings which are not subject to arbitration, as set forth in Section 21 of these Official Rules and/or for entering any judgment on an arbitration award, shall take place in the State of New York, in the City of New York.
23. Winner's List/Official Rules. For the name of the Winner, send a self-addressed stamped envelope for receipt by March 31, 2019 to "Winner List, 'A Day with Pikachu" Figurine' Giveaway" 1401 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 200, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. For Official Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the above address marked "Official Rules: 'A Day with Pikachu' Figurine Giveaway" for receipt by March 31, 2019. Residents of VT may omit postage on the self-addressed envelope. The name of the Winner may be posted, and the Official Rules will be posted on GameSpot.com.
Ubisoft has announced that, much like BioWare's Anthem, its upcoming loot-focused shooter, The Division 2, will release at different times depending on which version of the game you pre-order. If you go through Uplay, you can get access to the game at different times too.
If you pre-order the standard version of The Division 2, the game will be available worldwide for Xbox One and PS4 on March 15 at 12 AM local time--therefore Australia and New Zealand get access first and North and South America are last. With Uplay, on PC, The Division 2 will be playable on March 14 at 10 PM PT, which is March 15 at 1 AM ET. The Uplay playable time is 11 PM in the UK on March 14 and 12 AM in Australia on March 15. So only in certain regions does Uplay give you early access. A breakdown of the times is listed below.
The Division 2 Standard Edition Start Times
Xbox One and PS4
March 15 at 12 AM local time
Uplay/PC
March 14 at 10 PM PT
March 15 at 1 AM ET
March 14 at 11 PM UK
March 14 at 12 AM AU
If you pre-order the Gold or Ultimate Edition of The Division 2, you'll get the game even earlier. Worldwide, these two editions launch March 12 at 12 AM local time when you pre-order the Xbox One or PS4 versions, which once again gives certain countries earlier access than others. Through Uplay, The Division 2 Gold and Ultimate Editions are playable March 11 at 10 PM PT, March 12 at 1 AM ET, March 11 at 11 PM in the UK, and March 12 at 12 AM in Australia. A breakdown of the times is listed below.
The Division 2 Gold And Ultimate Edition Start Times
Xbox One and PS4
March 12 at 12 AM local time
Uplay/PC
March 11 at 10 PM PT
March 12 at 1 AM ET
March 11 at 11 PM UK
March 12 at 12 AM AU
Despite the game releasing in certain countries much earlier than others, the servers for The Division 2 won't go live until March 12 at 12 AM local time. So even though the game launches in certain countries on March 11--like the Gold and Ultimate Editions in the UK--you won't be able to play it until midnight that night. If you want a specific time for your region, you can find all the listed times on The Division 2's website.
The Division 2 will be available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Originally planned for Steam, the PC version of the game will now be launching through the Epic Games Store.
From Software has taken an interest in live service games--specifically those that exist in the battle royale genre. Although the developer wants to remain focused on single-player games for now--such as the upcoming Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice--From Software isn't discounting the possibility of making a multiplayer-focused title one day.
"There's always the possibility," From Software president Hidetaka Miyazaki said in an interview with The Telegraph. "These games are definitely fun. And we're interested in the patterns they are taking. If we did it, it might be a bit different! But we're definitely interested and there's definitely that possibility in the future. We'd love to take a crack at them some day."
Miyazaki added that he hopes video games don't become entirely multiplayer-focused live service titles. "We do need this diversity in the industry," Miyazaki sad. "Regardless of what From Software is doing, we need people making battle royale games and live services and we need people making single-player focussed experiences. We feel that this diversity is what will keep everyone going."
The From Software president doesn't seem worried with single-player games fading into obscurity, though. "Single-player action games don't feel too rare in the current climate," he said. "While Devil May Cry 5 has some online elements, it's coming out two weeks before our game. And that's a very single-player focussed experience. We've also had God of War and Spider-Man."
The closest From Software has ever come to creating a battle royale game is the PvP Hollow Arena included in the Ashes of Ariandel DLC for Dark Souls III. In Hollow Arena's Brawl mode, you can engage in six-player free-for-alls. However, unlike a traditional battle royale, you can respawn in Brawl mode and first place is earned by scoring the most kills, not outlasting the competition. So, to create an actual battle royale game would be a massive departure for From Software. That said, if Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice proves anything, it's that From Software is both willing and able to move away from the style of game it popularized with its Soulsborne titles.
The PlayStation Store puts games on sale regularly--its current weekly sale includes major deals from Ubisoft and Square Enix--but it launched a flash sale this morning that lists some PS4 games for up to 40% off. Running until Monday, March 11 at 8 AM PT / 11 AM EST, this US-only, limited-time sale includes deals on Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Divinity: Original Sin II, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, and more.
One of the most exciting deals is Divinity: Original Sin II's Definitive Edition, which is currently listed for $36 (40% off). Both the core game and its definitive edition received a 10/10 from GameSpot; in our Divinity: Original Sin II review, critic Brett Todd called Divinity: Original Sin II "one of the most captivating role-playing games ever made," praising its detailed plot, expansive tactical combat, extensive character customization options, and gorgeous visuals. Divinity also just received a new update, with more gift bags planned for 2019, so it's a good time to pick it up.
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